Of the 1,503 people who lost their lives, surely some of them were good swimmers. The icey waters of the Atlantic was more than a match for the best of swimmers. Sorry, but swimming lessons won't help.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- {9} not by works, so that no one can boast. (Eph 2:8-9 NIV)